But by 2.30pm, there were just two protesters left in Jarrow, chatting to a passing teenager on his bike.

And it was business as usual at Britain's largest inland facility, Kingsbury oil terminal in North Warwickshire.

Only a handful arrived at the Fawley refinery in Hampshire. Two men who arrived on foot at the entrance to the Stanlow refinery in Ellesmere Port, left within minutes after seeing they were alone.

The site had been the scene of some of the largest demonstrations five years ago.

At the oil storage depot at Avonmouth docks, Bristol - also one of the main areas to be blockaded in the 2000 protest - not a single protester was seen. And there were no demonstrators at either of the large refineries in west Wales. Both the Texaco refinery in Pembroke and the Total refinery in Milford Haven were blocked five years ago.

Ray Holloway, from the Petrol Retailers' Association, said the low turn out was "rather predictable".

Chris Hunt, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association, which represents BP, Shell and Esso, said the police had contingency plans to avoid the chaos of the 2000 protests. He added: "We were prepared for the worst but are very glad it's been so peaceful, law-abiding and low-key.

"We would like it to stay that way. They have made their point."

Friends of the Earth, meanwhile, insisted petrol prices would have to stay high to tackle climate change.

A spokesman said: "The Government's climate strategy is already failing. Cutting fuel tax would knock it even further off course. The Chancellor must stand firm on fuel tax and take action in his next budget to make it cheaper and easier for people to use greener transport."

Experts say the price of petrol could fall by as much as 4p a litre next week. Refineries are expected to start pumping extra oil stocks following the intervention of the International Energy Agency.

A spokesman for the AA Motoring Trust said the group was "cautiously" expecting a fall in petrol prices but added: "These things take time to work through."

He urged rich Opec countries to boost production and called for more transparency about the world's reserves. But he did not offer to cut duty as demanded by the fuel lobby.

Yesterday, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said the Government had recognised the problem of high fuel costs and already responded.

He explained: "We have not put the inflation increase through for the last couple of years. Indeed, since 1999 fuel prices have come down in real terms and cash terms, in terms of duty." Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, he went on: "I think most people now see a combination of things - rising consumption in China and the Far East and recent problems in the US - have driven up crude oil prices."

Mr Spence wants a 10 per cent cut in fuel costs in an essential user rebate and five per cent cut for motorists. He claims fuel costs for his farm had risen from £7,000 to £11,000 for the year. But he denied his media campaign was politically motivated, saying his mother was a Labour supporter.

"She is not speaking to me because of this," he added. "She will be chasing me down the street hitting me over the head with an umbrella.